River City Community Development Corp. is currently accepting applications from homeowners in Pasquotank, Camden and Perquimans counties who are either low income, elderly or disabled and need help with home repairs this summer.
River City CDC plans to host approximately 441 teenagers and adults from across the country who will be participating in a Group Workcamp in Elizabeth City scheduled for July 14-20.
As many as 80 qualifying residents of the three-county area are expected to benefit from the Workcamp, which is organized by Group Mission Trips, a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian volunteer home-repair organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Free repairs offered through the Workcamp will include interior and exterior painting, weatherization, porch and wheelchair ramp construction.
More than 7,000 young people and adults from across the country are expected to participate in 15 Workcamps in U.S. communities, including the one in Elizabeth City. At each Workcamp, teenagers and adults — all members of church youth groups — volunteer a week of their time to repair homes throughout the community.
“These really are remarkable young people,” said Tim Gilmour, president of Group Mission Trips. “Each one is actually paying for the privilege of working in your community. Workcamp registration fees are used to cover costs for food, insurance, and building materials.”
Group Mission Trips will pay for all lodging and food costs associated with the Workcamp. River City CDC is responsible for purchasing building materials for the repair work. According to River City, those are estimated to cost $25,000.
Participants in the Elizabeth City Workcamp will be housed at Pasquotank County High School during their stay. The workcampers will be sleeping on classroom floors, eating in the cafeteria, and enjoying evening programs in the gym, River City CDC said. Lenora Jarvis-Mackey, president/CEO of River City CDC, said local cooperation makes the Workcamp possible.
“This service to the community would be impossible without the wonderful cooperation of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, The city of Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County,” she said.
River City CDC has been co-sponsoring Workcamps in the Pasquotank, Camden, and Perquimans since 1996, serving hundreds of area homeowners, the nonprofit said.
Residents interested in applying to receive assistance during the Workcamp may contact River City CDC at (252) 331-6312, by emailing rivercitycdc@rivercitycdc.org, or visiting www.rivercitycdc.org. An application form can be downloaded from the website. Applications will be accepted through March 15, at River City’s locations at either 501 E. Main Street or 303 W. Ehringhaus Street.
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